Three-dimensional effect printing method

ABSTRACT

A three-dimensional effect printing method includes steps of providing a housing including a transparent substrate; printing an uneven transparent texture layer to form a textured pattern on an inner surface of the transparent substrate opposite to an outer surface facing a viewer; drying the transparent texture layer; printing a colored texture layer on the transparent texture layer; and drying the colored texture layer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a divisional application of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/876253, entitled “THREE-DIMENSIONAL EFFECT PRINTING METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE TREATED USING THE METHOD” filed on Jul. 9, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to printing methods and electronic devices, particularly, to a three-dimensional effect printing method and an electronic device that is treated using the method.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional printing methods apply static colors on the shells of electronic devices. These methods can normally create one-dimensional patterns and designs only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a three-dimensional effect printing method applied in the electronic device of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic device 10 according to an exemplary embodiment is disclosed. The electronic device 100 includes a housing 11 and a display 12 enclosed by the housing 11. In the embodiment, the electronic device 10 is a digital photo frame.

Referring also to FIG. 2, the housing 11 includes a transparent substrate 110. A transparent texture layer 111 is printed on an inner surface of the transparent substrate 110 and has an uneven surface 113. A colored texture layer 112 is printed on the uneven surface 113. The inner surface of the transparent substrate 110 is a surface opposite to an outer surface facing viewers.

The transparent substrate 110 can be made of transparent resin, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or the like.

The transparent texture layer 111 is a layer of transparent printing ink that is printed on the transparent substrate 110 by a conventional printing process. In the embodiment, the transparent texture layer 111 can be printed to form various textured appearances as required, such as woven, marbled, and grainy.

The colored texture layer 112 is a layer of colored printing ink that is printed on the uneven surface of the transparent texture layer 111 by a conventional printing process. In the embodiment, the color of the printing ink can be varied as required.

In the embodiment, light beams penetrate through the transparent substrate 110 and can be reflected by the uneven surface 113 of the transparent texture layer 111, causing the reflected light beams from the two texture layers to overlap to creating a three dimensional appearance. The colored printing ink cooperating with the textures of the texture layer 111 can cause a surface treated this way to appear as, for instance, a red woven material, a marble-like material, and a gray grainy material.

Referring to FIG. 3, a three dimensional effect printing method according to an exemplary embodiment is disclosed. In a step S31, printing an uneven transparent texture layer 111 on the inner surface of the transparent substrate 110 by the printing method such as silk-screen, offset point, or gravure.

In a step S32, drying the transparent texture layer 111. In the embodiment, the housing 11 printed with the transparent texture layer 111 can be placed in a chamber and subjected to heat with a constant temperature of about 40 degrees Celsius for about 10 hours to dry the transparent texture layer 111.

In a step 33, printing a colored texture layer 112 on the uneven surface of the transparent texture layer 111 by the printing method such as silk-screen, offset point, or gravure.

In a step 34, drying the colored texture layer 112. In the embodiment, the housing 11 with the transparent texture layer 111 and the colored texture layer 112 can also be placed in the chamber with a constant temperature of about 40 degrees Celsius for about 10 hours to dry the colored texture layer 112.

Moreover, it is to be understood that the disclosure may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the disclosure is not to be limited to the details given herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A three-dimensional effect printing method comprising: providing a housing comprising a transparent substrate; forming an uneven transparent texture layer on an inner surface of the transparent substrate opposite to an outer surface facing a viewer using a printing process, the transparent texture layer having a textured pattern; drying the transparent texture layer; forming a colored texture layer on the transparent texture layer using a printing process; and drying the colored texture layer.
 2. The printing method as described in claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate is made of transparent resin.
 3. The printing method as described in claim 1, wherein the transparent texture layer is formed from transparent ink and the colored texture layer is formed from colored ink.
 4. The printing method as described in claim 1, wherein drying the transparent texture layer comprises placing the housing with the transparent texture layer in a chamber and heating the housing with the transparent texture layer at a constant temperature of about 40 degrees Celsius for 10 hours.
 5. The printing method as described in claim 1, wherein drying the colored texture layer comprises placing the housing with the colored texture layer in a chamber and heating the housing with the colored texture layer at a constant temperature of about 40 degrees Celsius for 10 hours. 